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TIGER KING:
Questions Answered
Big Cat Captivity Laws in the United States
5,000 to 10,000 tigers living in captivity in the United States Only 3,000 left in the wild
The Problem
No federal laws designed to prohibit this
TIGER KING: Questions Answered Big Cat Captivity Laws in the United - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
TIGER KING: Questions Answered Big Cat Captivity Laws in the United - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
TIGER KING: Questions Answered Big Cat Captivity Laws in the United States The Problem 5,000 to 10,000 tigers living in captivity in the United States Only 3,000 left in the wild No federal laws designed to prohibit this The Problem INADEQUATE
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SLIDE 3
The Problem
INCONSISTENT STATE REGULATION
+ =
INADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF AWA/ESA THOUSANDS OF BIG CATS LANGUISH AND SUFFER IN CAPTIVITY IN U.S. INADEQUATE FEDERAL LAWS PROTECTING CAPTIVE TIGERS
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SLIDE 4
Federal Laws that Protect Big Cats
Endangered Species Act: Prohibits the interstate and foreign commerce
- f listed species and their parts and products without a permit or
authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Prohibits killing endangered species. Captive Wildlife Safety Act: Makes it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase, in interstate or foreign commerce, live large cats (USDA license holders exempt). Animal Welfare Act: Sets minimum care standards that address housing, handling, food, water, basic living requirements for most warm-blooded animals, including big cats, used for commercial purposes.
SLIDE 5
Patchwork of State Regulation
Types of state laws:
- Ban on private possession of big cats
- Ban on private possession of exotic big cats
- Allow private possession with a permit or license
- No law regulating or banning private possession
4 states do not regulate private possession of exotic wild animals: Alabama, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wisconsin
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Enforcement
- Fines don’t deter repeat
violators
- Exhibitor loophole
- Complaint-based
enforcement and inspection
- Agencies are
understaffed
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The Problem
INCONSISTENT STATE REGULATION
+ =
POOR ENFORCEMENT OF AWA/ESA THOUSANDS OF BIG CATS LANGUISH AND SUFFER IN CAPTIVITY IN U.S.
INADEQUATE FEDERAL LAWS PROTECTING CAPTIVE TIGERS
+
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Next Step: Big Cat Public Safety Act
H.R. 1380
- Sponsors: Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) &
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
- 227 co-sponsors
- S. 2561
- Sponsor: Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- 17 co-sponsors
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Next Step: Big Cat Public Safety Act
“Cub petting fuels the rapid and vicious cycle of breeding and dumping cubs after they outgrow their usefulness.” – Brian Fitzpatrick, bill sponsor
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Lawsuits to Help Captive Big Cats
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What You Can Do
Be an active participant in the legislative process:
- Sign up for ALDF action alerts: aldf.org/TakeAction
- Get to know your elected officials
- Lend your voice to captive wild animals
- Boycott roadside zoos, cub-petting operations, and
circuses that use animals
- Pass an ordinance
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Thank you!
Alicia Prygoski Legislative Affairs Manager Animal Legal Defense Fund Contact me: Email: aprygoski@aldf.org Stay up to date on ALDF’s work: Website: aldf.org Twitter: @ALDF Facebook: facebook.com/AnimalLegalDefenseFund